Introduction

These notes are intended to give some historic background to Embryology. Historically, say pre-20th century, Embryology was not easily separated from Medicine, Anatomy and Physiology and other biological sciences. I have also divided, for brevity, into pre-20th century, pre-molecular (lets call it 70's) and the current molecular embryology.

Pages where the terms "Historic Textbook" and "Historic Embryology" appear on this site, and sections within pages where this disclaimer appears, indicate that the content and scientific understanding are specific to the time of publication. This means that while some scientific descriptions are still accurate, the terminology and interpretation of the developmental mechanisms reflect the understanding at the time of original publication and those of the preceding periods, these terms and interpretations may not reflect our current scientific understanding. (More? Embryology History | Historic Embryology Papers)

Students by definition are learning about a topic, so it would seem contrary to the function of an educational site to include information that may be either incorrect or inaccurate. On the other hand, I think it is also important to understand how we achieved our current understanding of embryology and the researchers, discoverers and educators who have made important contributions.

Beginner students

You are just starting your studies and trying to understand basic embryology and development concepts.

Should probably avoid any content on the site labeled "Historic". The content may confuse or mislead your understanding of basic concepts in embryology and development. Begin with the notes pages linked from the image on the Main Page, or from the Site Map (excluding the history section of site).

Also be careful when viewing images and descriptions that appear as "additional images" or when using the "category" links at the bottom of pages.

Intermediate students

You have a general understanding of embryology and development concepts.

This means you have attended some lectures and practical classes, worked through some of the site notes pages, or studied an embryology textbook. I would still suggest caution when approaching historic material, be sure that you understand the current embryology theories. General observations of how long development takes and the appearance of the human and animal models embryos at different times will not have changed!

Historic images are generally more accurate than some of the accompanying notes pages where the images appear. Some of the labeled structures may have historic names that have been updated or changed in current descriptions, if in doubt use the Glossary. You may also note how many of the textbook images have been based upon some of these historic drawing.

Advanced students

You have a good understanding of embryology and development concepts.

This means that you not only understand, but can also explain clearly to others key developmental concepts. This also implies you understand the differences between recent findings, current controversies and research directions. Now is the time to confidently look back through the historic materials.

These historic materials will provide a context of how we arrived at our current understanding. Importantly, note the date on the page and consider what scientific techniques were available at that time and concurrent discoveries in biology and science.

How will I know that I am an advanced student? You should be able to identify concepts that remain and are applied today as well as those which have been updated or proved to be incorrect. Please also feel free to contact me with mistakes you have identified on this educational site.

Pages where the terms "Historic Textbook" and "Historic Embryology" appear on this site, and sections within pages where this disclaimer appears, indicate that the content and scientific understanding are specific to the time of publication. This means that while some scientific descriptions are still accurate, the terminology and interpretation of the developmental mechanisms reflect the understanding at the time of original publication and those of the preceding periods, these terms and interpretations may not reflect our current scientific understanding. (More? Embryology History | Historic Embryology Papers)

Pages where the terms "Historic Textbook" and "Historic Embryology" appear on this site, and sections within pages where this disclaimer appears, indicate that the content and scientific understanding are specific to the time of publication. This means that while some scientific descriptions are still accurate, the terminology and interpretation of the developmental mechanisms reflect the understanding at the time of original publication and those of the preceding periods, these terms and interpretations may not reflect our current scientific understanding. (More? Embryology History | Historic Embryology Papers)

1668 Regnier de Graaf (1641 - 1673), a Dutch physician and anatomist. Doctoral thesis on the pancreas, identified the function of the ovarian follicle (named Graafian follicle), the final mature antral follicle released by ovulation.

1705 "Paul Portal (1630-1703), The Compleat Practice of Men and Women Midwives (1705). A French obstetrician, originally published this important treatise in Paris in 1696. It includes his demonstration of turning a fetus during childbirth using one foot and contains his teaching that face presentation runs a normal course during the labor process." (More? Historical Medical Digital Library)

1754 William Smellie: A sett of anatomical tables, with explanations, and an abridgment, of the practice of midwifery (1754). He also helped develop the delivery forceps which by the late eighteenth century were a well-known standard obstetrical instrument. (More? NLM - Historical Anatomies)

Institute and Museum of the History of Science "Specimens of obstetric models: the wax models are life-sized; the terracotta versions are reduced to a 1:3 scale. Together with the anatomical waxes in the Specola Museum in Florence, these models are among the most significant examples of the use of artistic techniques for teaching medicine and obstetrics to midwives and surgery students in Florentine hospitals at the end of the eighteenth century."

Development in the early 20th century can also be seen in some Historic Movies 1920-1960.

Late 20th Century

Much of the modern history of Medicine/Embryology is documented in the Nobel Prizes for Medicine. There are either text extracts included or links to external texts or references in these notes. Some key women in development Virginia Apgar and Nicole Le Douarin.

1951 - Dr Viktor Hamburger and H L Hamilton publish "A series of normal stages in the development of the chick embryo."

1978 - First IVF baby born (The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2010 Awarded to Robert G. Edwards "for the development of in vitro fertilization")

1996 - "Dolly the sheep" First adult somatic cell cloning using the process of nuclear transfer.

Nobel Prizes

Much of the modern history of Medicine/Embryology is documented in the Nobel Prizes for Medicine. Remember that these award dates reflect findings that have proven to be scientific key breakthroughs from earlier dates.

21st Century

2000 - Human Genome Complete

2001 talk given by Robert Winston "Engineering Reproduction: Will We Still Be Human At The End of the 21st Century".

Nobel Prizes

Much of the modern history of Medicine/Embryology is documented in the Nobel Prizes for Medicine. Remember that these award dates reflect findings that have proven to be scientific key breakthroughs from earlier dates.

Embryology Textbooks

Most Textbooks include Embryology Historic issues in the preface, opening chapter or within each chapter as a special section or highlighted text box. Therefore no specific chapter or page reference is shown for the texts below.

Nobel awards in Medicine

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2002 - discoveries concerning 'genetic regulation of organ development and programmed cell death' Summary: "The human body consists of hundreds of cell types, all originating from the fertilized egg. During the embryonic and foetal periods, the number of cells increase dramatically. The cells mature and become specialized to form the various tissues and organs of the body. Large numbers of cells are formed also in the adult body. In parallel with this generation of new cells, cell death is a normal process, both in the foetus and adult, to maintain the appropriate number of cells in the tissues. This delicate, controlled elimination of cells is called programmed cell death."

The discovery of Hox genes and other genes related to body pattern formation. The fly Antennapedia mutant during development the embryo incorrectly positions two legs (pedia) where antenna should have been positioned. The discovery of this mutant in opened up the field of developmental genes and this field has recently (1995) been rewarded with a Nobel prize in Medicine. See also Fly Development

Award Details: "for their discoveries concerning the genetic control of early embryonic development"

E Diczfalusy, P G Crosignani Introduction: from reproductive endocrinology to reproductive health. The short history of a new departure by ESHRE. European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology. Hum. Reprod.: 1996, 11(8);1776-7 PubMed 8921131

H Tiedemann The long road to chemical and molecular embryology. What amphibians can teach us on differentiation. An interview with Professor Heinz Tiedemann. Interview by Horst Grunz. Int. J. Dev. Biol.: 1996, 40(1);113-22 PubMed 8735920

Search Pubmed

External Links

External Links Notice - The dynamic nature of the internet may mean that some of these listed links may no longer function. If the link no longer works search the web with the link text or name. Links to any external commercial sites are provided for information purposes only and should never be considered an endorsement. UNSW Embryology is provided as an educational resource with no clinical information or commercial affiliation.